Aerator valve and dental cleanser appliance

ABSTRACT

A valve with an annular outer body that slides up and down a central tubular column. The movement of the annular outer body relative to the central tubular column is achieved by the movement about a fulcrum of a lever positioned between the annular outer body and a flange on the central tubular column. This lever is free to rotate laterally about the axis of the annular outer body. The central tubular column has orifices around its periphery that allows liquids to pass through and on into one or more exits depending upon the relative position of the annular outer body to this central column. When the lever is actuated, the flow of liquid is diverted through an exit interconnecting with a mixing chamber. The pressure of the liquid entering the valve forces the liquid through the mixing chamber and on through a flexible hose connecting the mixing chamber with a dental appliance for manually directing the jet of liquid.

United States Patent Morton [54] AERATOR VALVE AND DENTAL [451 Aug. 1,1972 ABSTRACT CLEANSER. APPLIANCE V A valve with an annular outer bodythat slides up and [72] Inventor: Clive C. Morton, 33120 Arlesford, downa central tubular column. The movement of the Solon, Ohio 44139 annularouter body relative to the central tubular column is achieved by themovement about a fulcrum [22] Filed March 1970 of a lever positionedbetween the annular outer body [21] Appl. No.: 21,399 and a flange onthe central tubular column. This lever is free to rotate laterally aboutthe axis of the annular outer body. The central tubular column hasorifices 'i kggf around its periphery that allows liquids to passthrough and on into one or more exits depending upon [58] Field g a 'gthe relative position of the annular outer body to this central column.When the lever is actuated, the flow of liquid is diverted through anexit interconnecting [56] References Cited with a mixing chamber. Thepressure of the liquid en- UNITED STATES PATENTS tehringbtehe vglvefogces tlhe litqluidbthrgugh the mixing 0 am r an on roug at ext e oseconnecting 2,829,645 4/1958 Matteson ...l28/229 the mixing chamber witha dental appliance for manually directing the jet of liquid.

3,500,824 3/1970 Gilbert .....l28/66 Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood,Jr. 6 Claims, 22 Drawing Figures Assistant Examiner-John J. Love II 1 54I2- ls 15 PATENTEDMIB H972 3.680.791

sum 2 [1F 3 PATENTEDAUB 1 m2 3 680 791 SHEEI 3 [IF 3 applicances forreleasing a small jet of washing liquid under pressure, the liquidcomprising a mixture of water and Cleansing chemicals, such mixingoccurring within the appliance while in use, and more particularly to ahollow handled appliance attached to a flexible hose, said flexible hoseconnecting with a hose adaptor of novel design, said hose adaptor beingattached to an aerator valve of novel design which is attached to aspigot or faucet. v

A general object of the present invention is to provide such structurein a simplified manner that is readily manufactured and easyto installand use, such use providing effective cleaning of a persons mouth andteeth, particularly between the teeth.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a novel means ofdirecting a flow of water from either one of the two exits in theaerator valve at the will of the operator.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means of aerating thewater flowing out of one of the exits.

Another object of the invention is to provide a small jet of washingliquid under pressure out of a dental appliance jet attachment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a moveable operating leverfor directing the flow of water in the aerator valve at the will of theoperator, said movement to bea rotational displacement in additionto aninclined displacement in relation to the axis of the valve.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means of easilyconnecting and disconnecting an adaptor mixing chamber to the aeratorvalve.

Another object of the invention is to provide means of easily attachinga jet attachment to the dental appliance, said jet attachment connectingto a flexible jet nozzle which provides protection against injury to thesoft tissues of the mouth.

Another object of the invention is toprovide a thin flexible wall at theexit tip of the flexible jet nozzle, said exit tip restricting the flowof liquid and being caused to vibrate by t the velocity of the liquidpassing therethrough, said vibration agitating said liquid.

Another object of the invention is to provide a splash wall fordirecting the flow of water into the aerator chamber.

Another object of the invention is to provide means of entry for airinto the aerator chamber.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means of smoothing theflow of water in the aeration chamber, thereby producing a smooth, evenflow of water exiting from the aerator valve.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple means ofintroducing a chemical cleanser into the flow of water passing throughthe appliance handle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means of introducing achemical cleanser into the flow of water entering the flexible hosecommunicating with the dental appliance.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully described and claimed, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numeralsrefer to like parts, and in which;

FIG. I shows in side elevation a sectional view of an aerator valveconstructed in accordance with the invention, said aerator valve beingshown with the several parts of the valve in relative position such asto allow water to flow through the aerator chamber and out of the bottomorifice.

FIG. 2 shows in side elevation a sectional view of a dental appliancecomprising in combination an appliance handle, together with anappliance head and a jet attachment, said jet attachment being attachedto a flexible jet nozzle. 4

FIG. 3 is a side perspective of the aerator valve shown in FIG. I, withthe operating lever being shown in an inclined position relative to thebody of the valve, said lever position reducing the flow of waterthrough the lower part of the valve and directing the flow of waterthrough the outlet port in the wall of the aerator valve and into theadaptor mixing chamber shown attached to the side of said aerator valve.

FIG. 4 shows in side perspective the aerator valve as shownin FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows in side perspective the dental appliance as shown in FIG.2.

FIG. 6 shows in side perspective the center core part of the aeratorvalve with the gaskets removed to more clearly show the gasket grooves.

FIG. 7 shows in side perspective the operating lever of the aeratorvalve.

FIG. 8 shows in side perspective the sliding sleeve part of the aeratorvalve.

FIG. 9 shows in side perspective the spring pressure plate part of theaerator valve.

FIG. 10 shows in side perspective the aerator chamber part of theaerator valve.

FIG. 11 shows the flow smoother part of the aerator valve.

FIG. 12 is a pictorial perspective of the aerator valve.

FIG. 13 shows a plan view of the spring pressure plate part of theaerator valve.

FIG. 14 shows a plan view of the sliding sleeve part of the aeratorvalve.

FIG. 15 shows a plan view of the appliance head chemical container.

FIG. 16 shows in sideperspective an adaptor mixing chamber.

FIG. 17 is a side view of the appliance head chemical container.

FIG. 18 is a side elevation sectional view of the adaptor mixingchamber.

FIG. 19 is plan view of the adaptor mixing chamber.

FIG. 20 is a perspective of the center core part of the aerator valvelooking in the direction of the arrow X shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 21 is pictorial perspective of the dental appliance in combinationwith the jet attachment.

FIG. 22 is a plan view of the operating lever part of the aerator valve.

In carrying out the invention referring now specifically to the drawingsand particularly FIG. 1 thereof, there is provided an aerator valvecomprising a center core 1 with a sliding sleeve 15 surrounding saidcenter core I, said sliding sleeve 15 held against a flange 4 by meansof a compression spring 12 and a spring pressure plate 17, the springpressure plate 17 being attached to the center core 1 by a threaded flowsmoother 53. Attached to said sliding sleeve 15 by such conventionalmeans as threaded body 20 is an aerator housing 23, attached thereto,around the interior periphery of said aerator housing 23 is a splashwall 21.

Seated in grooves 5, 8 and 16 around the said center core 1 are gaskets6,54, 55, gaskets 6 and 54 forming a water-tight seal against the bore64 part of said sliding sleeve 15. The grooves 5, 8 and 16 are moreclearly seen in FIG. 6.

With continuing reference to FIG. 1, a threaded boss 2 is used to attachthe center core 1 to a water faucet, said attachment allowing the entryof water under pressure into the inlet port 3, the water flows downthrough the center core 1 and out through the plurality of apertures 13.The apertures are more clearly seen in FIGS. 6 and 20. With said slidingsleeve in a position relative to the center core 1 as shown in FIGS. 1and 4, the water exiting from said apertures 13, enters the springpocket 19 and passes by the periphery of the spring pressure plate 17where the turbulence channels 18 of said spring pressure plate 17 breaksthe flow of water into a plurality of separate streams. The separatestreams of water are directed to the center of the aeration chamber 56by the splash wall 21 where aeration of the water is achieved by airentering the plurality of air entries 22. The aerated water is directedto the exit orifice 24 and through the aeration mesh 25 by the flowsmoother 53.

With continuing reference to FIG. 1 and also referring to FIG. 4, thecompression spring 12 in combination with the spring pressure platemaintains pressure on the sliding sleeve 15 and also the lever 28,holding said sliding sleeve 15 against the flange 4, in which relativeposition water flows down through the aerator valve and out through theexit orifice 24.

With reference to FIG. 3 and also FIGS. 7 and 1, an operating lever 28can be depressed downward at the will of the operator, causing saidsliding sleeve 15 to move relative to said center core 1, said operatinglever 28 can be depressed until angle face 62 comes in contact withshoulder 27 in which relative position the flow of water into theaeration chamber 56 has been shut off by the gasket 55 in the gasketgroove 16, forming a water tight seal with the bore 64 part of thesliding sleeve 15. In this relative position, the flow of water throughthe apertures 13 of the center core 1 enter into the exit channel 7 andthereby enter the outlet port 11 and subsequently the adaptor mixingchamber 45, when the operating lever 28 is released, the compressionspring 12 applies pressure to the annular flange l4, forcing saidsliding sleeve 15 against said flange 4.

With reference to FIGS. 16 and 18, an adaptor shank 43 is attached byconventional means to a hose adaptor 42, the interior of said hoseadaptor 42 comprises a mixing chamber 45, mesh guards 57 and 58 areattached to the interior of said mixing chamber 45 providing means ofcontaining cleanser compound within said mixing chamber, adaptor lugs 44attached to adaptor shank 43 provide means of temporarily attachingadaptor shank 43 to said sliding sleeve 15 in adaptor orifice 10, saidadaptor lugs 44 sliding and said flexible hose connecting to anappliance handle 30.

With reference to FIGS. 2, 5 and 21, a dental appliance with an axialbore extending therethrough to provide a through liquid passage,comprising in combination, an appliance handle 30 attached to a flexiblehose 41 by conventional means, an appliance head 29, said appliance head29 having a head mixing chamber 32, in the interior of said head mixingchamber 32 is attached a head chemical container 31, reference beingmade to FIGS. 15 and 17 to more clearly define said head chemicalcontainer 31, said appliance head 29 has in combination a jet attachment34 held by means of a gasket 33 in said appliance head 29, said jetattachment 33 having a raised flange 35 for ease of removal, attached tosaid jet attachment 34 by conventional means is a flexible jet nozzle37, the exit tip 66 of said flexible jet noule being of sufficientnarrowness, and the said flexible nozzle wall being of sufficientthinness at the exit tip 66 as to cause said exit tip 66 to vibrate withthe movement of the cleansing liquid passing therethrough.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 7 and 22, operating lever 28 is free tobe rotationally displaced about the sliding sleeve throat 26 whileresting on shoulder 27. The operating handle aperture 60 is bevelled 61to allow said operating lever 28 to be inclined in relation to saidsliding sleeve throat 26, the rotational displacement of said operatinglever 28 about said sliding sleeve throat 26 provides the means ofrotating the said center core 1 during installation of said aeratorvalve to a spigot or faucet, while said operating lever 28 remainsstationary in relation to the faucet.

In using the invention the adaptor shank 43 is disconnected from thehose adaptor 42 and a quantity of chemical cleanser is inserted in themixing chamber 45. The hose adaptor 42 is attached to the adaptor shank43 and said adaptor shank 43 is inserted into the adaptor orifice 10.The appliance head 29 is disconnected from the appliance handle 30 and aquantity of chemical cleanser is placed in the head chemical container31. A jet attachment 34 is inserted into gasket 33 forming a water-tightseal.

The water faucet is turned on and water allowed to flow out of theaerator orifice 24. With combination hot and cold water mixing valves,the water temperature can be adjusted to personal preference by touchtesting the flow of water out of the aerator orifice 24.

The dental appliance is held in one hand and the jet attachment 34 isinserted into the users mouth. When the lever 28 is inclined at an anglerelative to the center core 1, said movement being at the will of theoperator, the leverage action of the lever 28 against the flange 4 movesthe sliding sleeve 15 down the center core 1, this brings the exitchannel 7 into alignment with the apertures 13 while at the same timeallowing the gasket 55 in groove 16 to form a water-tight seal with thesliding sleeve 15, thus shutting off the flow of water into the springpocket 19. The full pressure of water in the exit channel 7 escapesthrough the outlet port 1 l which connects directly to the adaptororifice 10.

In this position water flows under pressure through the hose adaptor 42,swirling about the mixing chamber 45, dissolving the chemical cleansercontained therein. The water and chemical mixture flows through theflexible hose 41 to the appliance handle 30 which is in combination withthe appliance head 29. In the appliance head 29 is a chemical container31 about which the liquid swirls,lfurther mixing with the chemicalprinciplesof thejinvention. Furthe'r, since. numerous modificationsandchanges will occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired tolimit the invention tothe exact construction and operation as shown anddescribed, 'all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resortedto, falling within the scope of the in vention.

Having thus completely and fully described the invention, what is nowclaimed as new is as follows:

1. A water aerator valve comprising in combination a center core with aconventional mounting means at one end, a sliding sleeve surroundingsaid center core, an operating lever provided for moving said slidingsleeve in relation to said center core, said movement providing means ofopening and closing an outlet port and likewise alternately opening andclosing water entry into an aeration chamber, said outlet port extendingthrough the wall of said sliding sleeve and connecting with an adaptororifice, an inlet port for the reception of water under pressure, aspring pressure plate which flange extending from said center core, asplash wall for directing the flow of water into an aeration chamber,said splash wall being attached to the inside perimeter of 'saidaeration chamber and surrounding .a flow smoother which is-positioned inthe center of said aeration chamber, said flow'smoother being attachedby conventional means to said spring pressureplate, a plu rality of airentry apertures in the outer wall of said aeration chamber, a meshprotectoracross an exit orifice.

'2. The water aerator valve as defined in claim 1.

characterized in that saidoperatinglever can be rotationally displacedabout the axis of said sliding sleeve throat'while alsomoveable in aninclined position relative to said sliding sleeve. I 4

3. The water aerator valve as'defined in claim 2 characterized in thatprovision of said gaskets of a ,suitable material provides a water-tightseal between retains a compression spring, said spring pressure platetending a roand th in e or of said aerati n chamber directs e ow o tur uent water away rom the air entry apertures and towards the center of theaeration chamber.

6. The water aeration valve as defined in claim 5 characterized in thatprovision of said flow smoother in the center of the aeration chamberprovides a means of reducing the turbulence of the aerated water priorto exiting from the aerator valve.

l l l

1. A water aerator valve comprising in combination a center core with aconventional mounting means at one end, a sliding sleeve surroundingsaid center core, an operating lever provided for moving said slidingsleeve in relation to said center core, said movement providing means ofopening and closing an outlet port and likewise alternately opening andclosing water entry into an aeration chamber, said outlet port extendingthrough the wall of said sliding sleeve and connecting with an adaptororifice, an inlet port for the reception of water under preSsure, aspring pressure plate which retains a compression spring, said springpressure plate being attached by conventional means to the end of saidcenter core, said compression spring applying pressure against an anularflange within said sliding sleeve, thus, said sliding sleeve maintainingpressure against said operating lever, said operating lever likewisebeing held by the said spring pressure against a flange extending fromsaid center core, a splash wall for directing the flow of water into anaeration chamber, said splash wall being attached to the insideperimeter of said aeration chamber and surrounding a flow smoother whichis positioned in the center of said aeration chamber, said flow smootherbeing attached by conventional means to said spring pressure plate, aplurality of air entry apertures in the outer wall of said aerationchamber, a mesh protector across an exit orifice.
 2. The water aeratorvalve as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said operating levercan be rotationally displaced about the axis of said sliding sleevethroat while also moveable in an inclined position relative to saidsliding sleeve.
 3. The water aerator valve as defined in claim 2characterized in that provision of said gaskets of a suitable materialprovides a water-tight seal between said center core and said slidingsleeve shaft.
 4. The water aerator valve as defined in claim 3characterized in that provision of a plurality of channels around theperiphery of said spring pressure plate causes turbulence in the flow ofwater passing between the periphery of said spring pressure plate andwall of said sliding sleeve.
 5. The water aerator valve as defined inclaim 4 characterized in that provision of said splash wall extendingaround the interior of said aeration chamber directs the flow ofturbulent water away from the air entry apertures and towards the centerof the aeration chamber.
 6. The water aeration valve as defined in claim5 characterized in that provision of said flow smoother in the center ofthe aeration chamber provides a means of reducing the turbulence of theaerated water prior to exiting from the aerator valve.